System and method for managing utility resources based on utility service points

ABSTRACT

A system comprises a memory that stores a plurality of usage values. A usage value may be based at least in part on usage of a utility resource measured by a utility meter having a meter identifier. The memory may store a plurality of service point identifiers and a plurality of account identifiers associated with one or more utility accounts. A particular service point identifier may represent a physical location of at least one utility meter. Each service point identifier may be stored in association with one or more usage values. The system may comprise a processor communicatively coupled to the memory. In response to a request comprising a particular service point identifier, the processor may retrieve one or more usage values from the memory based at least in part on the particular service point identifier in the request. The processor may generate a graphical user interface that displays the one or more retrieved usage values.

RELATED APPLICATION

This patent application claims priority to Patent Application Ser. No.60/959,318, filed Jul. 12, 2007, entitled Energy Management System UserInterface.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates generally to utility management and morespecifically to a system and method for managing utility resources basedon utility service points.

BACKGROUND

Traditional systems for managing utility resources allow users to storeinvoices received from vendors. In addition, these systems may permitusers to search for invoices associated with a particular date or aparticular account. These traditional systems, however, do not storeaudit information, supply information, and efficiency information forcustomer sites. In addition, these systems do not formulate strategiesfor reducing utility costs of a customer based on audit information,supply information, and efficiency information. As a result, thesesystems have proven unsatisfactory for assisting customers in managingutility costs.

SUMMARY

In accordance with the present disclosure, the disadvantages andproblems associated with prior utility management systems have beensubstantially reduced or eliminated.

In some embodiments, a system comprises a memory that stores a pluralityof utility invoices associated with one or more customers. A particularutility invoice comprises a bill for a utility resource provided by autility vendor to a particular customer. The memory further storessupply data associated with the plurality of customers, the supply datacomprising a plurality of contract terms from at least one contractbetween the utility vendor and the particular customer. The memoryfurther stores site data associated with the plurality of customers, thesite data comprising one or more characteristics of a site of theparticular customer. The system further comprises a processor thatdetermines at least one strategy to reduce utility costs of theparticular customer, the determination based at least in part on theparticular utility invoice, the supply data, and the site data. Theprocessor may generate a graphical user interface that displays the atleast one determined strategy.

In some embodiments, a system comprises a memory that stores a pluralityof usage values. A usage value may be based at least in part on usage ofa utility resource measured by a utility meter having a meteridentifier. The memory may store a plurality of service pointidentifiers and a plurality of account identifiers associated with oneor more utility accounts. A particular service point identifier mayrepresent a physical location of at least one utility meter. Eachservice point identifier may be stored in association with one or moreusage values. The system may comprise a processor communicativelycoupled to the memory. In response to a request comprising a particularservice point identifier, the processor may retrieve one or more usagevalues from the memory based at least in part on the particular servicepoint identifier in the request. The processor may generate a graphicaluser interface that displays the one or more retrieved usage values.

In some embodiments, a system comprises a memory that stores weatherdata associated with a site. The system further comprises a processorthat determines a balance point of the site based at least in part onthe weather data. The processor may determine an amount of utility usageat the site during a particular time period. The processor may normalizethe amount of utility usage based at least in part on the balance pointand the weather data. The processor may generate a graphical userinterface that displays the balance point and the normalized amount ofutility usage.

Various embodiments described herein may have none, some, or all of thefollowing advantages. One advantage is that the system may comprise autility management platform that monitors and evaluates informationregarding invoices, supply contracts, efficiency, and/or auditsassociated with customer sites. Based at least in part on thisinformation, the platform may determine strategies for reducing theutility costs of a customer. In some embodiments, these strategiescomprise fixing equipment (e.g., a malfunctioning meter) and/orcorrecting billing errors (e.g., a meter reading error or amiscalculation of a utility rate). According to certain embodiments,these strategies may comprise negotiating particular contract terms,changing the operating parameters at a customer site, and/or applyingfor particular credits and/or refunds from a vendor. The platform mayguide a customer in implementing these strategies to reduce utilitycosts and/or to increase the efficiency of a customer site.

Another advantage is that the system may comprise invoice databases thatare indexed according to service point identifiers. Indexing a databaseaccording to service point identifier may provide long-term advantagesover indexing the database only according to account number and/or meteridentifier. For example, a customer occasionally changes an accountand/or replaces a meter associated with a customer site. The new accountmay be assigned a new account number and the new meter may be assigned anew meter identifier. However, obtaining a new account or a new meterdoes not change the service point identifier for a related servicepoint. If the database is not indexed according to service pointidentifier, then a query based on the new account number and/or the newmeter number may not retrieve historical invoice data that is associatedwith prior accounts and/or meters. Accordingly, by indexing the databaseaccording to service point identifier, the system may more accuratelyand/or efficiently respond to queries for historical invoice data.

Another advantage is that the system may normalize utility usage withrespect to weather at a customer site. In some embodiments, the systemmay provide a graphical user interface that graphically illustratesnormalized usage data for a customer site for a particular period oftime. The graphical presentation of normalized usage data may permit auser to easily identify problems unrelated to weather that maycontribute to changes in utility usage at the customer site.

Another advantage is that the system may determine the emissions ofpollutants caused, directly or indirectly, by utility usage at acustomer site. According to certain embodiments, the system may generatea graphical user interface that illustrates emissions caused by anincrease or decrease in normalized utility usage at the customer site.The user interface may illustrate how the activities of the customer,rather than the weather, are affecting the level of emissions caused bythe customer site.

Other advantages will be readily apparent to one skilled in the art fromthe description and the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a more complete understanding of the present disclosure and itsadvantages, reference is now made to the following description taken inconjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates a utility management system, according to certainembodiments;

FIG. 2 illustrates the distribution of utility resources from vendors tocustomers in the system illustrated in FIG. 1, according to certainembodiments;

FIG. 3 illustrates example invoice data stored in a utility managementplatform, according to certain embodiments;

FIG. 4 illustrates an example graphical user interface (GUI) thatdisplays invoice data, according to certain embodiments;

FIG. 5 illustrates an example GUI that comprises information regardingsupply contracts, according to certain embodiments;

FIG. 6 illustrates an example GUI that displays market data, accordingto certain embodiments;

FIG. 7 illustrates an example GUI that displays information regardingthe efficiency of customer sites, according to certain embodiments;

FIG. 8 illustrates an example GUI that displays audit data, according tocertain embodiments;

FIG. 9 illustrates an example GUI that displays detailed invoice data,according to certain embodiments;

FIG. 10 illustrates an example GUI that displays information regarding abudget for a utility resource, according to certain embodiments;

FIG. 11 illustrates an example GUI that displays weather data, accordingto certain embodiments;

FIG. 12 illustrates an example GUI that illustrates the correlation ofdegree-days with expected utility usage at a customer site, according tocertain embodiments;

FIG. 13 illustrates an example GUI that displays normalized usage data,according to certain embodiments;

FIGS. 14-16 illustrate example GUIs that display emission dataassociated with customer sites, according to certain embodiments;

FIG. 17 illustrates a flowchart for searching invoice data that isindexed according to service point identifier, according to certainembodiments;

FIG. 18 illustrates a flowchart for determining normalized usage of autility resource at a customer site, according to certain embodiments;and

FIG. 19 illustrates a flowchart for generating a GUI that displaysinformation regarding emissions associated with a customer site,according to certain embodiments.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 illustrates a utility management system 10, according to certainembodiments. System 10 may comprise one or more vendors 20, customers30, utility management platforms 40, market centers 50, weather centers60, and clients 70 communicatively coupled by one or more networks 80.System 10 generally assists customers 30 in managing utility costs 12charged by vendors 20. In some embodiments, vendors 20 provide customers30 with utility resources 14 such as, for example, electricity, gas,oil, and water. Customers 30 may seek to manage procurement and usage ofutility resources 14 to reduce utility costs 12. Prior systems permittedcustomers 30 to review invoices 16 from vendors 20. These prior systems,however, may not determine and advise customers 30 regarding strategies18 for reducing utility costs 12. In contrast, utility management system10 may collect and evaluate information regarding invoices 16, supplycontracts 22, efficiency, and/or audits associated with customer 30.Based at least in part on this information, system 10 may determine andprovide to customer 30 strategies 18 for reducing utility costs 12and/or increasing efficiency of customer sites 24.

System 10 may comprise one or more vendors 20. Vendor 20 may compriseany suitable business entity that provides utility resources 14 tocustomers 30. In some embodiments, vendor 20 comprises a company thatgenerates, produces, refines, distributes, and/or sells utilityresources 14. Vendor 20 may be a regulated, unregulated, retail, and/orwholesale provider of utility resource 14. In some embodiments, vendor20 is an energy company such as, for example, an electricity company, agas company, an oil company, and/or a coal company. In otherembodiments, company is a telecommunications company such as, forexample, a telephone company, a cellular service provider, a satelliteservice provider, and/or an Internet service provider. In yet otherembodiments, company provides public services such as, for example,water, steam, sewer, and/or garbage services. System 10 may comprise anynumber and/or combination of vendors 20.

Vendors 20 may transmit invoices 16 to platform 40 and/or customers 30to collect payment for utility resources 14. Invoice 16 may represent abill for utility resources 14 provided to customer 30 during a givenbilling period. Invoice 16 may comprise any suitable billing informationsuch as, for example, utility usage 26 and utility cost 12. Utilityusage 26 may represent an amount of utility resource 14 used by at leasta portion of customer site 24 during one or more billing periods.Utility cost 12 may represent a monetary amount that vendor 20 chargesto customer 30 for utility resource 14 used by at least a portion ofcustomer site 24 during one or more billing periods. Utility cost 12 mayinclude or exclude taxes and/or fees associated with utility resource14. Such fees may include a delivery fee, a customer fee, a supply fee,and/or any suitable type and/or combination of charges. Vendor 20 maytransmit invoice 16 to platform 40 and/or customer 30 in any suitableformat such as, for example, as an e-mail, electronic spreadsheet,digital image, and/or paper bill.

System 10 may comprise a plurality of customers 30. Customer 30 mayrepresent any suitable entity that purchases and/or uses utilityresource 14 from vendor 20. Customer 30 may be a business, organization,association, private individual, group of individuals, and/or anysuitable entity. Each customer 30 in system 10 may be associated withone or more customer sites 24. In some embodiments, customer 30 may beassociated with multiple sites 24 such as, for example, a supermarketcompany that operates multiple stores. In other embodiments, customer 30may be associated with a single site 24 such as, for example, a breadcompany that operates a single bakery.

Site 24 may refer to any suitable facility, structure, property, and/orenterprise that uses at least one utility resource 14 from vendor 20.Using utility resource 14 may comprise consuming, converting,dissipating, and/or otherwise expending utility resource 14. Site 24 maycomprise one or more customer systems 28 that use utility resource 14.For example, site 24 may comprise one or more mechanical systems,electrical systems, computer systems, manufacturing systems, heatingsystems, and/or air conditioning systems that use at least one utilityresource 14 from vendor 20. Each site 24 may receive utility resources14 from one or more vendors 20 via utility lines 32. Site 24 may be usedfor any suitable endeavor. In some embodiments, site 24 is a businesssite 24 such as, for example, a store, hospital, clinic, office,factory, warehouse, and/or hotel. In other embodiments, site 24 is amunicipal site 24 such as, for example, a school, post office, and/orlibrary. In yet other embodiments, site 24 is an agricultural orindustrial site 24 such as, for example, a farm, ranch, lumber mill,refinery, and/or mine. System 10 may comprise any number and combinationof sites 24.

In some embodiments, each site 24 comprises at least one site server 34.Site server 34 may monitor customer systems 28 and generate site data36. Site data 36 may comprise information regarding the operation,performance, and/or maintenance of customer systems 28 at site 24. Sitedata 36 may comprise information regarding the equipment in customersystem 28, the operating schedule of customer system 28, the quantity ofutility resource 14 consumed by customer system 28, and/or the operatingconditions associated with customer system 28. For example, site 24 maycomprise an air conditioning system having multiple chillers. Siteserver 34 at site 24 may monitor the operation of the chillers andgenerate site data 36 that indicates the operating schedule of thechillers, the average load of the chillers, and/or the quantity ofelectricity consumed by the chillers. Site server 34 may transmit sitedata 36 to platform 40.

Site server 34 may comprise any suitable combination of hardware and/orsoftware implemented in one or more modules to provide the describedfunctions and operations. In some embodiments, site server 34 maycomprise a general-purpose personal computer (PC), a Macintosh, aworkstation, a Unix-based computer, a server computer, or any suitableprocessing device. In some embodiments, the functions and operationsdescribed above may be performed by a pool of multiple site servers 34.

Vendors 20 and/or customers 30 may be communicatively coupled toplatform 40 via network 80. Platform 40 may manage utility costs 12 ofcustomers 30 based at least in part on invoices 16, supply contracts 22,site data 36, market data 38, and/or weather data 42. In someembodiments, managing utility costs 12 comprises monitoring, renewing,and/or negotiating supply contracts 22 between customers 30 and vendors20. Additionally or alternatively, managing utility costs 12 maycomprise auditing invoices 16, supply contracts 22, and/or site data 36to determine strategies 18 for reducing utility costs 12 of customers30. In some embodiments, managing utility costs 12 may compriseprocessing invoices 16 to identify billing errors and/or potentialcredits from vendor 20. Platform 40 may comprise a management centerand/or office for any person, business, or entity that manages utilitycosts 12 on behalf of customers 30. In some embodiments, platform 40 isowned and/or operated by a consulting company that manages utility costs12 in exchange for fees or other consideration from customers 30.

Platform 40 may comprise a manager server 44 and one or more memorymodules 46. Manager server 44 may receive invoices 16 from vendors 20and site data 36 from sites 24. For a particular site 24, manager server44 may compare invoices 16 with site data 36 to determine efficiency ofcustomer systems 28 at site 24. Manager server 44 may compare invoices16 with supply contract 22 of a particular customer 30 to determinebilling errors and/or potential credits from vendor 20. In someembodiments, manager server 44 may process market data 38 to determinerates and/or contract terms to include in an existing or future supplycontract 22 between customer 30 and vendor 20. According to certainembodiments, manager server 44 may normalize utility usage 26 at site 24with respect to weather. In some embodiments, manager server 44 maydetermine increases and/or decreases in the emission of pollutants basedat least in part on the normalized utility usage 26.

Manager server 44 may comprise any suitable combination of hardwareand/or software implemented in one or more modules to provide thedescribed functions and/or operations. In some embodiments, managerserver 44 may comprise a general-purpose personal computer (PC), aMacintosh, a workstation, a Unix-based computer, a server computer,and/or any suitable processing device. According to certain embodiments,the functions and operations described above may be performed by a poolof multiple manager servers 44. Manager server 44 may comprise a managermemory 48 and a manager processor 52.

Manager memory 48 comprises any suitable arrangement of random accessmemory (RAM), read only memory (ROM), magnetic computer disk, CD-ROM, orother magnetic or optical storage media, or any other volatile ornon-volatile memory devices that store one or more files, lists, tables,or other arrangements of information such as weather data 42. AlthoughFIG. 1 illustrates manager memory 48 as internal to manager server 44,it should be understood that manager memory 48 may be internal orexternal to manager server 44, depending on particular implementations.Also, manager memory 48 may be separate from or integral to other memorydevices to achieve any suitable arrangement of memory devices for use insystem 10.

Manager memory 48 may store manager logic 54, emission data 56, marketdata 38, and weather data 42. Manager logic 54 may comprise rules,algorithms, code, tables, and/or other suitable instructions forperforming the described functions and/or operations. Emission data 56may comprise emission factors 58, emission rates, and/or other suitableinformation regarding pollutants associated with the production and/orconsumption of utility resources 14. The use of emission data 56 tomanage utility resources 14 is described in further detail with respectto FIGS. 14-19.

Manager memory 48 may be communicatively coupled to manager processor52. Manager processor 52 is generally operable to execute manager logic54 stored in manager memory 48 to manage utility resources 14 ofcustomers 30. Manager processor 52 may comprise any suitable combinationof hardware and/or software implemented in one or more modules toprovide the described functions and/or operations.

Platform 40 may comprise one or more memory modules 46. Memory modules46 may store any suitable data associated with system 10. Memory module46 may represent any memory device, direct access storage device (DASD),and/or database module and may take the form of volatile or non-volatilememory comprising, without limitation, magnetic media, optical media,random access memory (RAM), read-only memory (ROM), removable media, orany other suitable local or remote memory component. It will beunderstood that there may be any suitable number and/or combination ofmemory modules 46 communicatively coupled to manager server 44.

Memory modules 46 may store any suitable data such as, for example,supply data 62, site data 36, invoice data 64, and/or audit data 66.Supply data 62 may comprise information regarding expired, current,and/or prospective supply contracts 22 between vendors 20 and customers30. Supply data 62 may comprise any suitable type and/or combination ofsupply contract 22 between vendors 20 and customers 30. In someembodiments, supply contract 22 is a fixed rate contract, variable ratecontract, or blended rate contract. A fixed rate contract may refer tosupply contract 22 in which the price of utility resource 14 is fixedfor a period of time (e.g., one year, two years, the term of supplycontract 22, etc.). A variable rate contract may refer to supplycontract 22 in which the price of utility resource 14 is setperiodically (e.g., weekly, monthly, etc.) based at least in part on theprice that vendor 20 pays in the wholesale market for utility resource14. A blended rate contract may refer to supply contract 22 in which aportion (e.g., half) of the rate for utility resource 14 is fixed forthe term of supply contract 22 and the remaining portion (e.g., half) ofthe rate for utility resource 14 periodically reset by vendor 20 basedat least in part on market prices.

In some embodiments, supply contract 22 may be customized according tocharacteristics of vendor 20 and/or market conditions. For example,supply contract 22 may be a rate cap contract in which vendor 20 agreesto provide utility resource 14 to customer 30 at the market price with aguarantee that the rate will not rise above a certain value regardlessof the current market price. As another example, supply contract 22 maybe a fixed-bill contract (e.g., weather-protection contract) in whichvendor 20 guarantees that customer 30 will not pay more than a fixedamount for utility resource 14 over a given time period (e.g., year, twoyears, etc.). The fixed amount that is charged to customer 30 may bebased at least in part on the usage pattern of customer 30 over theprevious period (e.g., year, two years, etc.) and adjustments forweather. As yet another example, supply contract 22 may be a fixedvolume contract in which vendor 20 and/or customer 30 estimates theperiodic (e.g., monthly, quarterly, etc.) utility usage 26 of customer30 based at least in part on past utility usage 26, and vendor 20procures the estimated quantity of utility resource 14 on behalf ofcustomer 30. Customer 30 may be financially responsible for thedifference between the estimated utility usage 26 and the actual amountof utility resource 14 purchased by vendor 20 for customer 30 on thespot market. Vendor 20 may calculate the difference between theestimated and actual utility usage 26 of customer 30 each hour,half-hour, and/or according to any suitable interval of time. Thus,supply data 62 in memory module 46 may comprise information regardingany number and/or combination of supply contracts 22.

In some embodiments, memory module 46 stores site data 36. As explainedabove, site data 36 may comprise information regarding the operation,performance, and/or maintenance of customer systems 28 at each site 24associated with system 10. Site data 36 may comprise informationregarding the equipment in customer system 28, the operating schedule ofcustomer system 28, the quantity of utility resource 14 consumed bycustomer system 28, and/or the operating conditions associated withcustomer system 28.

According to certain embodiments, memory module 46 stores invoice data64. Invoice data 64 may comprise information regarding past and currentinvoices 16 from vendors 20 to customers 30. Invoice data 64 maycomprise any suitable billing information such as, for example, utilityusage 26 and utility cost 12 for one or more billing periods. Invoicedata 64 may comprise delivery fees, customer fees, supply fees, taxes,and/or any suitable information.

In some embodiments, memory module 46 stores audit data 66. Audit data66 may comprise any suitable information regarding audits that platform40 may perform on behalf of customers 30. In some embodiments, platform40 may audit supply data 62, site data 36, and/or invoice data 64 ofcustomer 30 to determine strategies 18 for reducing utility costs 12and/or increasing efficiency of customer 30. By auditing supply data 62,site data 36, and/or invoice data 64, platform 40 may identify problemssuch as, for example, a malfunctioning meter 74, a meter reading error,a miscalculation of a utility rate, a miscalculation of taxes, and/or abilling error. Platform 40 may determine any suitable strategy 18 forreducing utility costs 12 and/or increasing efficiency of customer 30.In some embodiments, strategy 18 may be for customer 30 to renegotiatesupply contract 22 and/or execute a new supply contract 22 that includesa particular type of rate. For example, strategy 18 may recommend thatcustomer 30 switch from a fixed rate contract to a blended ratecontract. According to certain embodiments, strategy 18 may be forcustomer 30 to change operating parameters of site 24. For example,strategy 18 may recommend that customer 30 deactivate the airconditioning system at site 24 during weekends. In some embodiments,strategy 18 may recommend that customer 30 apply for exemptions and/orcredits from vendor 20. For example, strategy 18 may recommend thatcustomer 30 apply for credits from vendor 20 by switching fromcommercial status to residential status. By auditing supply data 62,site data 36, and/or invoice data 64 of customer 30, platform 40 maydetermine any suitable type and/or combination of strategies 18 forreducing utility costs 12 and/or increasing the efficiency of customer30.

Although FIG. 1 illustrates separate memory modules 46 that store supplydata 62, site data 36, invoice data 64, and audit data 66, it should beunderstood that supply data 62, site data 36, invoice data 64, and/oraudit data 66 may be stored in one memory module 46, in multiple memorymodules 46, in manager memory 48, and/or in a suitable configuration ofmemory devices.

In some embodiments, system 10 comprises one or more market centers 50that are communicatively coupled to platform 40 via network 80. Marketcenter 50 may transmit market data 38 regarding utility resources 14 toplatform 40. Market center 50 may comprise an exchange, bank, marketmaker, broker, Alternative Trading System (ATS), and/or any suitablemarket participant. Market data 38 may comprise current and/orhistorical information regarding utility resources 14 such as, forexample, market prices, trading volumes, and/or index values associatedwith utility resources 14. In some embodiments, market data 38 comprisesinformation regarding derivatives of utility resources 14 such as, forexample, options, swaps, and/or futures contracts. Platform 40 may usemarket data 38 from market center 50 to determine prices for supplycontracts 22, to process invoices 16, and/or to manage utility costs 12of customers 30. In some embodiments, market center 50 may be acommodity exchange such as, for example, the New York MercantileExchange (NYMEX), the Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME), or Eurex. Inother embodiments, market center 50 may be a financial news serviceorganization such as, for example, Bloomberg, L.P.

According to certain embodiments, system 10 comprises one or moreweather centers 60 that transmit weather data 42 to platform 40 vianetwork 80. Weather data 42 may comprise current and/or historicalinformation regarding the temperature, humidity, pressure,precipitation, and/or wind speed at one or more locations. Platform 40may use weather data 42 to normalize usage of utility resources 14 atsite 24. Weather center 60 may obtain weather data 42 from observationsand/or measurements made at weather stations located within configurabledistances of sites 24. Weather center 60 may be operated by any suitableentity that compiles and/or disseminates weather data 42. For example,weather center 60 may be operated by the National Weather Service (NWS),the National Climatic Data Center (NCDC), the National Climate Archiveof Canada, and/or any suitable entity.

In some embodiments, system 10 comprises one or more clients 70. Client70 represents any suitable local or remote end-user device that may beused to access one or more elements of system 10, such as manager server44. User 68 may use client 70 to review supply data 62, site data 36,invoice data 64, audit data 66, market data 38, and/or any suitableinformation. Client 70 may comprise a computer, workstation, telephone,Internet browser, electronic notebook, Personal Digital Assistant (PDA),pager, or any other suitable device (wireless, wireline, or otherwise),component, or element capable of receiving, processing, storing, and/orcommunicating information with other components of system 10. Client 70may also comprise any suitable user interface such as a display,microphone, keyboard, or any other appropriate terminal equipmentaccording to particular configurations and arrangements. It will beunderstood that system 10 may comprise any number and combination ofclients 70.

In some embodiments, client 70 may comprise a graphical user interface(GUI) 72. GUI 72 is generally operable to tailor and filter datapresented to user 68. GUI 72 may provide user 68 with an efficient anduser-friendly presentation of supply data 62, site data 36, invoice data64, and/or audit data 66. GUI 72 may comprise a plurality of displayshaving interactive fields, pull-down lists, and buttons operated by user68. In one example, GUI 72 presents relevant invoice data 64 to user 68and conceals the remaining information to reduce visual clutter. Then,upon receiving a request from user 68, GUI 72 expands the visualrepresentation of invoice data 64 to display account information,contract information, and/or other suitable information. GUI 72 mayinclude multiple levels of abstraction including groupings andboundaries. It should be understood that the term graphical userinterface may be used in the singular or in the plural to describe oneor more graphical user interfaces and each of the displays of aparticular graphical user interface.

Each client 70 may be associated with one or more users 68. User 68 maycomprise any individual, group of individuals, entity, machine, and/ormechanism that interacts with client 70. In some embodiments, user 68may be a customer user 68 a or consultant user 68 b. Customer user 68 amay comprise any user 68 associated with one or more customers 30 insystem 10. Customer user 68 a may be an executive, manager, accountant,engineer, technician, contractor, agent, employee, and/or any suitablerepresentative of customer 30. Client 70 and/or manager server 44 maycustomize GUI 72 of client 70 associated with a particular customer user68 a based at least in part on the role (e.g., executive, manager,engineer, etc.) of the particular customer user 68 a. For example, GUI72 for accountant employed by customer 30 may display itemized cost datafor each invoice 16 while GUI 72 for technician employed by customer 30may display site data 36 comprising the efficiency of customer systems28 at site 24. Thus, client 70 and/or manager server 44 may generateGUIs 72 that are tailored to the particular functions and/orresponsibilities of the particular customer user 68 a.

In some embodiments, user 68 is a consultant user 68 b. Consultant user68 b may by an operator, agent, employee, and/or any suitablerepresentative of a consulting company that provides consulting servicesto customer 30. In some embodiments, customer 30 may hire the consultingcompany to provide services directed to reducing utility costs 12 ofcustomer 30. According to certain embodiments, the consulting companymay own, operate, and/or maintain platform 40. In some embodiments,customer 30 may pay fees to the consulting company in exchange forreceiving access to platform 40 and/or other services of consultant user68 b.

Vendors 20, sites 24, platform 40, market center 50, weather center 60,and/or clients 70 may be communicatively coupled via one or morenetworks 80. Network 80 may represent any number and combination ofwireline and/or wireless networks suitable for data transmission.Network 80 may, for example, communicate interne protocol packets, framerelay frames, asynchronous transfer mode cells, and/or other suitableinformation between network addresses. Network 80 may include one ormore intranets, local area networks, metropolitan area networks, widearea networks, cellular networks, all or a portion of the Internet,and/or any other communication system or systems at one or morelocations.

In operation, platform 40 may manage utility costs 12 of customers 30.Platform 40 may receive invoice data 64 and supply data 62 from vendors20 and/or customers 30. In some embodiments, platform 40 may receivesite data 36 from sites 24. Based at least in part on supply data 62,site data 36, and/or invoice data 64, platform 40 may determinestrategies 18 for reducing utility costs 12 of customers 30. In someembodiments, strategies 18 may comprise correcting errors identified byplatform 40 such as, for example, billing errors and/or metering errors.According to certain embodiments, strategies 18 may compriseopportunities to reduce future utility costs 12. For example, strategies18 may comprise renewing and/or renegotiating supply contract 22 with aparticular type of rate, applying for credits from vendors 20, and/orchanging one or more operating parameters of site 24. Platform 40 maycause client 70 to generate one or more GUIs 72 that display thedetermined strategies 18 to user 68.

FIG. 2 illustrates the distribution of utility resources 14 from vendors20 to customers 30, according to certain embodiments. The distributionof utility resources 14 in system 10 may comprise utility lines 32,meters 74, service points 76, and submeters 78. As explained above,vendor 20 may provide utility resources 14 to sites 24 via one or moreutility lines 32. Utility line 32 may comprise any suitable equipmentfor providing utility resource 14 to customer 30. For example, utilityline 32 may comprise one or more cables, wires, conductors, buses,channels, pipes, canals, conduits, ducts, and/or any suitable typeand/or combination of equipment. In some embodiments, utility line 32may be owned, operated, and/or maintained by vendor 20 and/or anotherbusiness entity (e.g., “wires” company, distribution company, etc.).

Each site 24 in system 10 may comprise one or more meters 74. Meter 74may measure the amount of utility resource 14 provided to site 24.Measuring the amount of utility resource 14 provided to site 24 maycomprise measuring the volume, flow rate, mass, weight, energy, and/orquantity of utility resource 14 provided to site 24. Meter 74 maycomprise any suitable measuring device such as, for example, anelectromechanical meter, solid state meter, multiple tariff meter,automated meter reading (AMR) meter, time of usage (TOU) meter, intervalusage meter, and/or any suitable type of meter. Each site 24 maycomprise at least one meter 74 for each type of utility resource 14delivered to site 24. In some embodiments, site server 34 associatedwith site 24 may collect and store measurements from meters 74 at site24. Site server 34 may transmit the measurements from meters 74 toplatform 40 as part of site data 36.

In some embodiments, each meter 74 in system 10 may be owned, operated,and/or maintained by vendor 20 and/or another utility company. Eachmeter 74 may be associated with a respective meter identifier 82. Meteridentifier 82 for a particular meter 74 may comprise one or morealphanumeric characters and/or symbols that uniquely identify theparticular meter 74. Meter identifier 82 may be printed on, stamped on,etched on, and/or otherwise associated with meter 74. In someembodiments, the manufacturer of meter 74 may determine and assign meteridentifier 82 to meter 74.

According to certain embodiments, the physical location of each meter 74may be referred to as a service point 76. Service point 76 may comprisethe point of delivery of utility resource 14 from vendor 20 to customer30. In some embodiments, service point 76 may represent the point atwhich ownership of utility resource 14 transfers from vendor 20 tocustomer 30. Site 24 may have one or more meters 74 for a particulartype of utility resource 14. As a result, site 24 may also have one ormore service points 76 for the particular type of utility resource 14.

Each service point 76 may be associated with a unique service pointidentifier 84. Service point identifier 84 for a particular servicepoint 76 may comprise one or more alphanumeric characters and/or symbolsthat uniquely identify the particular service point 76. In someembodiments, a regulatory agency or other governing body determines andassigns a respective service point identifier 84 to each service point76 in system 10. Service point identifier 84 for a particular servicepoint 76 may be determined and assigned independently from meteridentifier 82 for meter 74 at the particular service point 76.Accordingly, service point identifier 84 may not change if the existingmeter 74 at service point 76 is replaced with a new meter 74 having anew meter identifier 82.

In some embodiments, site 24 may comprise one or more submeters 78. Eachsubmeter 78 at site 24 may measure usage of utility resource 14 by arespective customer system 28 at site 24. Accordingly, if site 24 hasmultiple customer systems 28, each customer system 28 may be associatedwith a respective submeter 78. For example, site 24 may comprise onesubmeter 78 that measures electricity usage of a chiller plant at site24 and another submeter 78 that measures electricity usage of a lightingsystem at site 24. Submeters 78 may permit customer 30 to monitor usageof utility resource 14 by each customer system 28 with more granularitythan permitted by meter 74. Submeter 78 may comprise any suitablemeasuring device such as, for example, an electromechanical meter, solidstate meter, multiple tariff meter, automated meter reading (AMR) meter,time of usage (TOU) meter, interval usage meter, and/or any suitabletype of meter. In some embodiments, site server 34 associated with site24 may collect and store measurements from submeters 78. Site server 34may transmit the measurements from submeters 78 to platform 40 as partof site data 36.

FIG. 3 illustrates example invoice data 64 stored in memory module 46,according to certain embodiments. As explained above, invoice data 64may comprise information regarding past and current invoices 16 fromvendors 20 to customers 30. In some embodiments, invoice data 64 maycomprise utility usages 26 and utility costs 12. Utility usage 26 mayrepresent the amount of utility resource 14 consumed by at least aportion of site 24 during a given billing period (e.g., week, month,quarter, etc.). In some embodiments, utility usage 26 may represent theamount of utility resource 14 delivered by vendor 20 to a particularservice point 76 at site 24 during a given billing period. Accordingly,if site 24 comprises more than one service point 76, site 24 may beassociated with more than one value of utility usage 26 for a givenbilling period. Utility usage 26 may be expressed in any suitable units.For example, where utility resource 14 is electricity, utility usage 26may be expressed as kilowatt hours (kWh), joules (J), and/or anysuitable unit. As another example, where utility resource 14 is naturalgas, utility usage 26 may be expressed as cubic feet, British ThermalUnits (BTUs), and/or any suitable unit. As yet another example, whereutility resource 14 is water, utility usage 26 may be expressed as cubicmeters, cubic feet, and/or any suitable unit.

In some embodiments, invoice data 64 comprises utility costs 12. Utilitycost 12 may represent the monetary amount that vendor 20 charges tocustomer 30 for utility resource 14 consumed by at least a portion ofsite 24 during a given billing period. In some embodiments, utility cost12 represents the monetary amount that vendor 20 charges for utilityresource 14 delivered to a particular service point 76 at site 24.

In some embodiments, invoice data 64 may comprise a site address,account identifier 86, vendor name, and meter identifier 82 inassociation with each value of utility usage 26 and/or utility cost 12.A site address may indicate the street address of site 24 that consumedutility resource 14 associated with utility usage 26 and/or utility cost12. Account identifier 86 may comprise one or more alphanumericcharacters and/or symbols that identify the vendor account under whichutility resource 14 is provided to site 24. Meter identifier 82 mayidentify the particular meter 74 that measured the amount of utilityresource 14 delivered to service point 76 at site 24.

In some embodiments, invoice data 64 may be indexed according to servicepoint identifier 84. Thus, platform 40 may store service pointidentifier 84 in association with each utility usage 26 and utility cost12 from each invoice 16.

Indexing invoice data 64 according to service point identifier 84 maypermit platform 40 to efficiently and accurately respond to queries forinvoice data 64. In some embodiments, indexing invoice data 64 accordingto service point identifier 84 may permit platform 40 to more accuratelyrespond to queries than if invoice data 64 were indexed only accordingto meter identifier 82. Because meter 74 at site 24 may be occasionallyreplaced, meter identifier 82 associated with site 24 may change. Wheresite 24 comprises meter 74 that was recently replaced, a query that isbased on meter identifier 82 of the current meter 74 may not retrievehistorical invoice data 64 associated with the prior meter 74. Incontrast, service point identifier 84 of service point 76 does notchange when meter 74 at service point 76 is replaced. Thus, a query thatis based on service point identifier 84 may retrieve current andhistorical invoice data 64 associated with current and prior meter(s) 74at service point 76. As a result, indexing invoice data 64 in platform40 according to service point identifier 84 may permit platform 40 toaccurately respond to queries for invoice data 64.

An example illustrates certain embodiments. A particular site 24 locatedat 123 Main Street comprises two service points 76—Service Point A andService Point B. Meter U at Service Point A was replaced on Nov. 3,2003. In this example, if user 68 wants to retrieve from platform 40 allhistorical and current invoice data 64 associated with Service Point A,user 68 may input into client 70 a query that comprises “A” as servicepoint identifier 84. In response to the query, manager server 44 mayidentify and retrieve from memory module 46 all records associated with“A” as service point identifier 84. Thus, even though a portion of thehistorical invoice data 64 is associated with a different meteridentifier 82 (i.e., Meter Identifier U) than the current invoice data64 (i.e., Meter Identifier T), manager server 44 may retrieve andprovide to user 68 all of the requested invoice data 64.

For similar reasons, indexing invoice data 64 according to service pointidentifier 84 may permit platform 40 to more accurately respond toqueries than if invoice data 64 were indexed only according to accountidentifier 86. Because customers 30 may occasionally change vendors 20and/or accounts, account identifiers 86 associated with site 24 maychange. Where site 24 is associated with a new account, a query that isbased on account identifier 86 of the new account may not yieldhistorical invoice data 64 associated with the prior account. Incontrast, service point identifier 84 of a particular service point 76does not change when account for site 24 changes. Thus, a query that isbased on service point identifier 84 may retrieve current and historicalinvoice data 64 associated with current and prior accounts.

In some embodiments, indexing invoice data 64 according to service pointidentifier 84 may permit platform 40 to more accurately respond toqueries than if invoice data 64 were indexed only according to streetaddresses of sites 24. As explained above, a particular site 24 may havemultiple service points 76. If user 68 wishes to retrieve invoice data64 for a particular service point 76 at site 24 having multiple servicepoints 76, a query based on the street address of site 24 may yieldunwanted invoice data 64 associated with other service points 76 at site24. For example, with respect to the illustrated invoice data 64, aquery comprising a street address of 123 Main Street would yield invoicedata 64 for two service points 76—Service Point A and Service Point B.If user 68 wishes to only retrieve invoice data 64 associated withService Point A, platform 40 may permit user 68 to submit query based onservice point identifier 84 rather than street address.

Although the foregoing examples describe invoice data 64 that is indexedaccording to service point identifier 84, it should be understood thatany type of data stored in platform 40 may be indexed according toservice point identifier 84. In some embodiments, supply data 62, sitedata 36, and/or audit data 66 stored in platform 40 may be indexedaccording to service point identifier 84. For example, audit data 66 maycomprise strategies 18 for reducing utility costs 12 of customer 30.Each strategy 18 in audit data 66 may be indexed according to theparticular service point identifier 84 for the particular service point76 to which strategy 18 applies. Thus, any type and/or combination ofdata stored in platform 40 may be indexed according to service pointidentifier 84.

FIG. 4 illustrates an example GUI 72 that provides an easy-to-useinteractive interface for user 68 of client 70 to search and reviewsupply data 62, site data 36, invoice data 64, and/or audit data 66. Insome embodiments, GUI 72 comprises a plurality of displays havinginteractive fields, pull-down lists, and/or buttons operated by user 68.In some embodiments, GUI 72 comprises a plurality of tabs 202-216, asite field 218, a date field 220, a usage display 222, a cost display224, and a savings table 226.

Tabs may allow user 68 to navigate to different screens comprisingdifferent types of information. GUI 72 may comprise a data central tab202 that navigates to a screen comprising historical and current invoicedata 64. In some embodiments, GUI 72 comprises a supply management tab204 that navigates to a screen comprising information regarding supplycontracts 22, an energy efficiency tab 206 that navigates to a screencomprising information regarding efficiency at site 24, and/or an audittab 208 that navigates to a screen comprising strategies 18 for reducingutility costs 12. According to certain embodiments, GUI 72 comprises abill data tab 210 that navigates to a screen comprising detailedinformation regarding invoices 16, a budget tab 212 that navigates to ascreen comprising information regarding utility budgets, a weather tab214 that navigates to a screen comprising information regarding utilityusage 26 that is normalized with respect to weather, and/or an emissionstab 216 that navigates to a screen comprising information regarding theemission of pollutants attributable to sites 24. In the illustratedexample, the data central tab 202 has been selected by user 68.

Site field 218 and date field 220 may permit user 68 to formulate aquery for invoice data 64 associated with at least one site 24 and/or atleast one date range. Platform 40 may retrieve invoice data 64 based atleast in part on the particular site 24 and date range selected by user68 in site field 218 and date field 220, respectively. Client 70 maydisplay the retrieved invoice data 64 to user 68.

Usage display 222 may show information regarding utility usage 26 at theselected site 24 during the selected date range. In some embodiments,usage display 222 shows a comparison of utility usage 26 for a currentperiod (e.g., month, year, etc.) with utility usage 26 for a priorperiod (e.g., month, year, etc.). Usage display 222 may comprise usagetable 228 and usage graph 230.

Usage table 228 may provide a comparison of utility usage 26 for atleast one time period with utility usage 26 for another time period. Insome embodiments, usage table 228 comprises a field 232 showing utilityusage 26 at the selected site 24 during the current month and a field234 showing the total utility usage 26 at the selected site 24 duringthe current year. Usage table 228 may comprise a field 236 showingutility usage 26 at the selected site 24 during the same month of aprior year and a field 238 showing the total utility usage 26 at theselected site 24 during the prior year. In some embodiments, usage table228 may comprise a field 240 showing the difference (e.g., representedas a percentage, fraction, whole number, etc.) between the values infields 232 and 236. According to certain embodiments, usage table 228may comprise a field 242 showing the difference between the values infields 234 and 238.

Usage graph 230 may graphically illustrate utility usage 26 at theselected site 24 during one or more periods of time. In someembodiments, usage graph 230 may represent a comparison of utility usage26 during each month of the current year with utility usage 26 duringeach month of a prior year. Usage graph 230 may comprise a first axis244 representing utility usage 26 and a second axis 246 representingtime periods. In some embodiments, usage graph 230 may be associatedwith one or more format buttons 248. User 68 may select format button248 to change the format of usage graph 230. For example, format button248 may allow user 68 to format usage graph 230 as a bar graph, linegraph, or data chart.

In some embodiments, GUI 72 may comprise cost display 224. Cost display224 may show information regarding utility costs 12 at the selected site24 during the selected date range. In some embodiments, cost display 224shows a comparison of utility costs 12 for a current time period withutility costs 12 for a prior time period. Cost display 224 may comprisecost table 250 and cost graph 252.

Cost table 250 may provide a comparison of utility costs 12 for at leastone period of time with utility costs 12 for another period of time. Insome embodiments, cost table 250 comprises a field 254 showing theutility costs 12 at the selected site 24 during the current month and afield 256 showing the total utility costs 12 at the selected site 24during the current year. Cost table 250 may comprise a field 258 showingthe utility costs 12 at the selected site 24 during the same month of aprior year and a field 260 showing the total utility costs 12 at theselected site 24 during the prior year. In some embodiments, cost table250 may comprise a field 262 showing the difference (e.g., representedas a percentage, fraction, whole number, etc.) between the values infields 254 and 258. According to certain embodiments, cost table 250 maycomprise a field 264 showing the difference between the values in fields256 and 260.

Cost graph 252 may graphically illustrate the utility costs 12 at theselected site 24 during one or more periods of time. In someembodiments, cost graph 252 may represent a comparison of the utilitycosts 12 during each month of the current year with the utility costs 12at the selected site 24 during each month of a prior year. Cost graph252 may comprise a first axis 262 representing utility cost 12 and asecond axis 264 representing time periods (e.g., months). In someembodiments, cost graph 252 may be associated with one or more formatbuttons 248. User 68 may select format button 248 to change the formatof cost graph 252. For example, format button 248 may allow user 68 toformat cost graph 252 as a bar graph, line graph, or data chart.

In some embodiments, GUI 72 displays savings table 226. Savings table226 may display the reduction or increase in utility costs 12 thatcustomer 30 has obtained by implementing one or more strategies 18determined by platform 40. For example, platform 40 may determinestrategy 18 for renewing supply contract 22 associated with the selectedsite 24. In some embodiments, strategy 18 may direct customer 30 toselect a particular vendor 20 for supply contract 22. If customer 30implements strategy 18, platform 40 may thereafter determine a reductionor increase in utility costs 12 of customer 30 as a result ofcontracting with the selected vendor 20 rather than with other vendors20. Savings table 226 may comprise a field 266 that displays thedetermined reduction or increase in utility costs 12 during a givenmonth and a field 268 that displays the determined reduction or increasein utility costs 12 during a given year.

In some embodiments, GUI 72 may display one or more export buttons 270.By selecting export button 270, user 68 may launch another applicationand export data from GUI 72 to the other application. The otherapplication may be any suitable application including, but not limitedto, a spreadsheet application, word processing application, documentimaging application, and/or other type of application.

FIG. 5 illustrates an example GUI 72 that comprises informationregarding supply contracts 22, according to certain embodiments. User 68may navigate to the illustrated GUI 72 by selecting the supplymanagement tab 204. GUI 72 may comprise a search field 272, contractdisplay 274, and service point table 276.

Search field 272 may permit user 68 to select one or more supplycontracts 22 for which to view data. In the illustrated example, user 68selected supply contract 22 associated with vendor 20 named Reliable andwith an effective date of Aug. 1, 2006. In response to the selection ofsupply contract 22, platform 40 may retrieve supply data 62 associatedwith the selected supply contract 22. Client 70 may display theretrieved supply data 62 to user 68.

Contract display 274 may show contract terms and/or other informationassociated with the selected supply contract 22. In some embodiments,contract display 274 may comprise a field 278 that displays the name ofvendor 20 for the selected contract, a field 280 that displays theeffective date of the selected contract, and a field 282 that displaysthe expiration date of the selected contract. According to certainembodiments, contract display 274 may show a field 284 indicating thecurrent status of the selected supply contract 22. Field 284 mayindicate any suitable status of the selected contract such as, forexample, active, expired, inactive, suspended, and/or pending approval.In some embodiments, contract display 274 comprises field 286 indicatingthe type of pricing specified by the selected contract. Field 286 mayindicate any suitable type of pricing such as, for example, fixed rate,variable rate, blended rate, or fixed volume. According to certainembodiments, contract display 274 may comprise field 288 showing thecurrent rate for utility resource 14 under the selected contract andfield 290 showing the total unit cost for utility resource 14 under theselected contract. In some embodiments, contract display 274 maycomprise field 292 indicating payment terms specified by the selectedcontract such as, for example, a preferred method of payment or adiscount for early payment. According to certain embodiments, contractdisplay 274 may comprise field 294 indicating an amount of a swingoption associated with the selected supply contract 22.

Service point table 276 may comprise information regarding one or moreservice points 76 associated with the selected supply contract 22. Insome embodiments, service point table 276 lists each service point 76 towhich vendor 20 is obligated to deliver utility resources 14 under theselected supply contract 22. Service point table 276 may display thenames of sites 24, corresponding service point identifiers 84, and theaddresses of sites 24.

In some embodiments, GUI 72 may comprise a market button 296. Marketbutton 296 may permit user 68 to launch a display of current and/orhistorical market data 38 for utility resource 14 associated with theselected contract. GUI 72 may be configured to display market data 38 asa pop-up window and/or as a separate screen.

FIG. 6 illustrates an example GUI 72 that displays market data 38,according to certain embodiments. GUI 72 may comprise a date field 298,market data graph 302, and a news table 304. Date field 298 may permituser 68 to specify a particular date and/or date range for displayingmarket data 38 in market data graph 302.

Market data graph 302 may display market prices associated with utilityresource 14. In some embodiments, market data graph 302 may displayclosing prices of futures contracts for utility resource 14. Thedisplayed closing prices may be based on market data 38 from one or moremarket centers 50 such as, for example, the New York Mercantile Exchange(NYMEX). In some embodiments, market data graph 302 comprises a firstaxis 306 representing the market price (e.g., closing price) of futurescontracts associated with utility resource 14 and a second axis 308representing settlement dates of the futures contracts. In someembodiments, market data graph 302 comprises at least one price line 310indicating the respective prices for futures contract with differentsettlement dates. By selecting a particular point of price line 310(e.g., by positioning a cursor over a particular point in price line310), user 68 may view the current price for a futures contract with asettlement date corresponding to the selected point. In someembodiments, market data graph 302 may be associated with one or moreformat buttons 312 that allow user 68 to configure market data graph 302as a line graph, bar graph, and/or data chart.

News table 304 may comprise a list of one or more publications regardingutility markets such as, for example, electricity markets, gas markets,oil markets, and/or any suitable market. The listed publications maycomprise press releases, newspaper articles, news letters, marketreports, and/or any suitable documents regarding utility markets. Eachlisted publication in news table 304 may comprise a hyperlink, embeddedlink, and/or inline link that, upon selection, causes GUI 72 to displayat least a portion of the selected publication. Thus, GUI 72 may allowuser 68 to easily view market data 38 and market news associated withutility resource 14.

FIG. 7 illustrates an example GUI 72 that displays information regardingthe efficiency of one or more sites 24, according to certainembodiments. User 68 may navigate to the illustrated GUI 72 by selectingthe efficiency tab 206. GUI 72 may comprise a date field 314 and anefficiency chart 316.

Date field 314 may permit user 68 to specify a time period fordisplaying information regarding efficiency of sites 24. In someembodiments, date field 314 may be associated with one or more buttons318 that allow user 68 to specify a date range for the information to bedisplayed. For example, user 68 may select button 318 to displayinformation for a twelve-month period, button 318 to display informationfor each month in the current calendar and/or fiscal year, and button318 to display information for the month starting on, ending on, and/orcomprising the date selected in date field 314.

Efficiency chart 316 may comprise information regarding utility usage 26and/or efficiency of one or more sites 24. In some embodiments,efficiency chart 316 comprises names of a plurality of sites 24associated with a particular customer 30, vendor 20, and/or supplycontract 22 (illustrated as column 320). Efficiency chart 316 maydisplay a respective area of each site 24 (illustrated as column 322).Efficiency chart 316 may display the amount of utility resources 14consumed at each site 24 during the selected date range (illustrated ascolumn 324). In some embodiments, efficiency chart 316 displays theamount of utility resources 14 consumed per unit area at each site 24during the selected date range (illustrated as column 326). According tocertain embodiments, efficiency chart 316 displays the cost of utilityresources 14 consumed at each site 24 during the selected date range(illustrated as column 328) and the amount of utility resources 14consumed per unit area at each site 24 during the selected date range(illustrated as column 330).

In some embodiments, efficiency chart 316 may comprise one or morefields that indicate the average usage and average cost of utilityresources 14 for the selected sites 24. For example, efficiency chart316 may comprise field 332 that indicates the average usage of utilityresources 14 during the selected date range and field 334 that indicatesthe average usage per unit area of utility resources 14 during theselected date range. Efficiency chart 316 may comprise field 336 thatindicates the average cost of utility resources 14 during the selecteddate range and field 338 that indicates the average cost per unit areaof utility resources 14 during the selected date range. According tocertain embodiments, for each site 24, efficiency chart 316 may displaythe variance (illustrated as column 340) between utility usage 26 ofthat site 24 and the average utility usage 26 for the displayed sites 24during the selected date range. Similarly, efficiency chart 316 maydisplay the variance (illustrated as column 342) between utility costs12 of each site 24 and the average utility cost 12 for the displayedsites 24 during the selected date range

In some embodiments, GUI 72 may display one or more export buttons 340in association with efficiency chart 316. By selecting export button340, user 68 may launch another application and export data from GUI 72to the other application. The other application may be any suitableapplication including, but not limited to, a spreadsheet application,word processing application, document imaging application, and/or othertype of application.

According to certain embodiments, GUI 72 may display one or more formatbuttons 342. Format button 342 may allow user 68 to configure datasection as a graph (e.g., bar graph, line graph, etc.) based on utilityusage 26 per unit area, a graph (e.g., bar graph, line graph, etc.)based on utility cost 12 per unit area, and/or a data chart.

FIG. 8 illustrates an example GUI 72 that displays audit data 66determined by platform 40, according to certain embodiments. User 68 maynavigate to the illustrated GUI 72 by selecting the audit tab 208. Asexplained above, platform 40 may audit supply data 62, site data 36,and/or invoice data 64 to determine strategies 18 for customer 30 toreduce utility costs 12 and/or increase the efficiency of sites 24. Insome embodiments, the determined strategies 18 comprise fixing equipment(e.g., a malfunctioning meter 74) and/or correcting billing errors(e.g., a meter reading error, a miscalculation of a utility rate, amiscalculation of taxes, etc.). According to certain embodiments, thedetermined strategies 18 comprise restructuring supply contract 22,changing operating parameters of site 24, and/or applying for creditsfrom vendor 20. Platform 40 may determine any suitable type and/orcombination of strategies 18 for reducing utility costs 12 and/orincreasing the efficiency of sites 24.

GUI 72 may comprise an audit chart 344 that displays strategies 18 touser 68.

The displayed strategies 18 may be associated with a particular customer30, site 24, service point 76, supply contract 22, and/or vendor 20. Insome embodiments, audit chart 344 displays a plurality of sites 24(illustrated as column 346) in association with the respective vendor 20for each site 24 (illustrated as column 348). For each site 24, auditchart 344 may display one or more strategies 18 determined by platform40. Audit chart 344 may display a monetary value (illustrated as column350) that represents the monetary savings that have been and/or can berealized by implementing the corresponding strategy 18. In someembodiments, audit chart 344 displays a status (illustrated as column352) for each strategy 18, indicating how often strategy 18 may beimplemented (e.g., once, monthly, etc.).

FIG. 9 illustrates an example GUI 72 that displays detailed invoice data64, according to certain embodiments. User 68 may navigate to theillustrated GUI 72 by selecting the bill data tab 210. GUI 72 maycomprise a site field 354, account field 356, and invoice chart 358.Site field 354 may permit user 68 to select at least one site 24associated with customer 30. In response to the selection of site 24,platform 40 may determine one or more accounts associated with theselected site 24. Account field 356 may permit user 68 to select atleast one of the determined accounts associated with the selected site24. Platform 40 may then retrieve invoice data 64 associated with theselected account. Client 70 may display the retrieved invoice data 64 touser 68.

Invoice chart 358 may display information based at least in part oninvoices 16 associated with the selected site 24. In some embodiments,invoice chart 358 displays the bill date (illustrated as column 360) andthe number of days in the billing period (illustrated as column 362) foreach invoice 16. According to certain embodiments, for each invoice 16,invoice chart 358 may display total utility usage 26 (illustrated ascolumn 364), and average utility usage 26 per day (illustrated as column368) at site 24. In some embodiments, invoice chart 358 may show, foreach invoice 16, the billed demand (illustrated as column 370) and theactual demand (illustrated as column 372) at site 24. According tocertain embodiments, invoice chart 358 may display, for each invoice 16associated with site 24, the utility costs 12 (illustrated as column374) excluding taxes and fees, the average utility costs 12 per day(illustrated as column 376), and the average utility costs 12 per unitof utility resource 14 (illustrated as column 378). In some embodiments,for each invoice 16, invoice chart 358 may display the taxes(illustrated as column 380), fees (illustrated as column 382), and feesper unit of utility resource 14 delivered to site 24 (illustrated ascolumn 384). According to certain embodiments, invoice chart 358 maydisplay, for each invoice 16, the total cost (illustrated as column 386)of utility resource 14 delivered to site 24.

In some embodiments, GUI 72 may display one or more export buttons 388in association with invoice chart 358. By selecting export button 388,user 68 may launch another application and export data from GUI 72 tothe other application. The other application may be any suitableapplication including, but not limited to, a spreadsheet application,word processing application, document imaging application, and/or othertype of application.

In some embodiments, invoice chart 358 may be sortable by user 68. User68 may select at least one cell in a particular column in order to sortthe entries in invoice chart 358 in ascending or descending order.

According to certain embodiments, invoice chart 358 may comprise one ormore links (illustrated as column 390) that permit user 68 to view animage of invoice 16. By selecting link, user 68 may launch anapplication that displays an image of the actual invoice 16 receivedfrom vendor 20. The application that displays image may be a spreadsheetapplication, word processing application, document imaging application,and/or other type of application.

FIG. 10 illustrates an example GUI 72 that displays informationregarding a budget for utility resource 14, according to certainembodiments. User 68 may navigate to the illustrated GUI 72 by selectingthe budget tab 212. GUI 72 may comprise a site field 392 and a budgetchart 394. Site field 392 may permit user 68 to select a particular site24 for displaying information in budget chart 394.

Budget chart 394 may display a comparison of actual utility costs 12 tobudgeted utility costs 12. In some embodiments, budget chart 394displays information for a plurality of billing periods (illustrated ascolumn 396). For each billing period, budget chart 394 may display amonetary amount (illustrated as column 398) that customer 30 budgeted tospend on utility costs 12, excluding taxes and fees, for the selectedsite 24. In some embodiments, budget chart 394 may display, for eachbilling period, a monetary amount that customer 30 budgeted to spend onfees for utility resource 14 (illustrated as column 402) and a monetaryamount that customer 30 budgeted to spend on taxes for utility resource14 (illustrated as column 404) for the selected site 24. In someembodiments, budget chart 394 may display, for each billing period, amonetary amount that customer 30 budgeted to spend on utility resource14 including taxes and fees (illustrated as column 406) and a monetaryamount that customer 30 actually spent on utility resource 14 deliveredto the selected site 24, including taxes and fees (illustrated as column408). According to certain embodiments, budget chart 394 may comprisefields 412-418 displaying the total monetary amounts that customer 30budgeted for utility costs 12, fees, and taxes for all of the displayedbilling periods (e.g., an entire year) and field 422 displaying thetotal monetary amount that customer 30 actually spent for utilityresources 14 delivered to site 24. In some embodiments, for each billingperiod, budget chart 394 may display the variance (illustrated as column410) between the budgeted cost illustrated in column 406 and the actualcost illustrated in column 408.

In some embodiments, GUI 72 may display one or more export buttons 422in association with budget chart 394. By selecting export button 422,user 68 may launch another application and export data from GUI 72 tothe other application. The other application may be any suitableapplication including, but not limited to, a spreadsheet application,word processing application, document imaging application, and/or othertype of application.

FIG. 11 illustrates an example GUI 72 that displays weather data 42,according to certain embodiments. User 68 may navigate to theillustrated GUI 72 by selecting the weather tab 214. GUI 72 may comprisea site field 424 and one or more weather charts 426. Site field 424 maypermit user 68 to select a particular site 24 for which user 68 wishesto normalize utility usage 26.

Weather charts 426 may display information regarding the normalizationof utility usage 26 at the selected sites 24. As explained above,platform 40 may use weather data 42 to normalize utility usage 26 atsite 24 with respect to weather. Normalizing utility usage 26 for site24 may comprise increasing or decreasing the actual utility usage 26 atsite 24 to account for fluctuations in weather. Utility usage 26 that isnormalized with respect to weather may be referred to as normalizedusage 428. Normalized usage 428 may indicate to user 68 whether factorsother than weather are contributing or have contributed to changes inutility usage 26 at site 24. Such factors may include equipmentmalfunctions, changes in operating parameters, metering errors, leaks inutility lines 32, and/or other factors that, unlike weather, may becorrected by user 68 to reduce utility costs 12.

Platform 40 may receive weather data 42 from weather center 60. Weatherdata 42 may include any suitable information regarding the weather ateach site 24 of customer 30. Information regarding the weather at site24 may comprise information regarding the weather near and/or within aconfigurable distance of site 24 (e.g., at the nearest weather station).In some embodiments, weather data 42 comprises the high temperature, lowtemperature, average temperature, and/or mean temperature each day. Foreach site 24, platform 40 may determine a number of degree-days 430 foreach day based at least in part on weather data 42. Degree-day 430 mayrefer to a measurement unit for temperature. In some embodiments, onedegree-day 430 may refer to one degree of departure of the daily meantemperature for a given day from a base temperature. For example, if thebase temperature is sixty-five degrees Fahrenheit (° F.) and the meantemperature for a given day is eighty-five ° F., then the given day mayhave twenty degree-days 430 (i.e., eighty-five degrees minus sixty-fivedegrees). In other embodiments, the number of degree-days 430 in a givenday may be determined by monitoring the current temperature andcontinuously integrating the difference between the current temperatureand the base temperature.

The base temperature used to calculate degree-days 430 may be anysuitable temperature. In some embodiments, base temperature may be anoutside temperature at which an average building does not requireheating or cooling to maintain the indoor temperature at a configurablecomfort level. According to certain embodiments, the base temperaturemay be from fifty-five to seventy ° F. In some embodiments, the basetemperature may be sixty-five ° F.

In some embodiments, degree-day 430 may be referred to as a coolingdegree-day 430 (CDD) or a heating degree-day 430 (HDD). One coolingdegree-day 430 may refer to one degree of departure of the daily meantemperature for a given day above a base temperature. One heatingdegree-day 430 may refer to one degree of departure of the daily meantemperature for a given day below the base temperature. For example, ifbase temperature is sixty-five ° F. and the mean temperature for a givenday is thirty-five ° F., then the given day has thirty heatingdegree-days 430. In contrast, if base temperature is sixty-five ° F. andthe mean temperature for a given day is ninety ° F., then the given dayhas twenty-five cooling degree-days 430.

Platform 40 may determine the number of degree-days 430 for each day ofa given year. In some embodiments, platform 40 may then determine thetotal number of degree-days 430 during one or more periods of time(e.g., week, month, year, etc.). In the illustrated example, each timeperiod comprises thirty days (i.e., each time period roughly correspondsto a respective month). In the example, based at least in part onweather data 42, platform 40 determines that there were forty-twocooling degree-days 430 during February 2004, two hundred fifty-fourcooling degree-days 430 during March 2004, and so forth.

To normalize usage data, platform 40 may determine a normalizationformula 432 that correlates utility usage 26 and outdoor temperature fora given site 24. In some embodiments, normalization formula 432 may beused to determine the expected utility usage 26 at site 24 as a linearor non-linear function of degree-days 430 at site 24. To determinenormalization formula 432, platform 40 may perform a regression based atleast in part on historical weather data 42. In the illustrated example,platform 40 performs a linear regression of usage data and weather data42 over a four-year period (January 2004 to December 2007) to determinenormalization formula 432. The regression may be performed according toany suitable method such as, for example, a least-squares method, anerrors-in-variables method, a weighted least-squares method, and/or arobust regression method. In this example, platform 40 determines thatutility usage 26 at site 24 during a given time period (i.e., thirtydays in this example) may be approximated according to the followingnormalization formula 432:U=58.391*T+164,199In the above formula, “U” represents the expected utility usage 26during a given month and “T” represents the number of degree-days 430during the given month.

Based at least in part on normalization formula 432, platform 40 maydetermine a balance point 434 of site 24. Balance point 434 of site 24refers to the expected utility usage 26 of site 24 during a given monthif there were no degree-days 430 during the month. Referring to theabove example, if there were no degree-days 430 during the month (i.e.,T=0), then the expected utility usage 26 during the month would be164,199 kWh. Thus, in the above example, balance point 434 of site 24 is164,199 kWh. In some embodiments, site 24 may comprise one or morecustomer systems 28 that are operated for purposes other than heatingand/or cooling (e.g., assembly line at automobile factory, switchequipment at telephone facility, etc.). These customer systems 28 at mayconsume utility resources 14 even when there are no degree-days 430.Accordingly, such sites 24 may have balance points 434 that are greaterthan balance point 434 for site 24 with few or no customer systems 28operated for purposes other than heating and/or cooling (e.g.,warehouse, residence, etc.).

Platform 40 may determine normalized usage 428 of site 24 base at leastin part on the expected utility usage 26 during one or more timeperiods, the actual utility usage 26 during one or more time periods,and/or the determined balance point 434. Platform 40 may determine theexpected utility usage 26 for a particular period based at least in parton the determined degree-days 430 for that time period and/or thedetermined normalization formula 432. In some embodiments, for a giventime period, platform 40 may input the determined degree-days 430 intonormalization formula 432 to calculate the expected utility usage 26 forthat time period. Referring to the illustrated example, platform 40 maydetermine the expected utility usage 26 during November 2007. In thisexample, platform 40 determines that there were 290 cooling degree-days430 in November 2007. Platform 40 inputs this value into the determinednormalization formula 432 (in this example, U=58.391*T+164,199) todetermine that the expected utility usage 26 for November 2007 is181,133 kWh. Thus, platform 40 may determine the expected utility usage26 for each month based at least in part on the number of degree-days430 during each month and the determined normalization formula 432.

In some embodiments, platform 40 then determines normalized usage 428for a given time period. In some embodiments, platform 40 determinesnormalized usage 428 for a given time period based at least in part onthe expected utility usage 26 during the time period, the actual utilityusage 26 during the time period, and/or the determined balance point 434of site 24. According to certain embodiments, platform 40 may determinethe difference between the expected utility usage 26 for a particulartime period and the actual utility usage 26 for the particular timeperiod. Platform 40 may then determine normalized usage 428 by adding orsubtracting the determined difference to/from the determined balancepoint 434 of site 24.

Referring to the previous example, platform 40 is operable to determinenormalized usage 428 for November 2007. As explained above, platform 40may determine that the expected utility usage 26 during November 2007 is181,133 kWh. Platform 40 may then determine from invoice data 64 thatthe actual utility usage 26 in November 2007 was 183,842 kWh. Platform40 may subtract the expected utility usage 26 from the actual utilityusage 26 to determine a difference of 2,709 kWh. Platform 40 may thendetermine normalized usage 428 by adding the determined difference tobalance point 434. In this example, platform 40 determines thatnormalized usage 428 during November 2007 is 166,909 kWh (i.e., 2,709kWh+164,199 kWh). Thus, 166,909 kWh represents normalized usage 428 ofsite 24 during November 2007 (e.g., usage if weather were not acontributing factor).

In the foregoing example, platform 40 determines normalized usage 428 ofsite 24 based at least in part on monthly data (e.g., monthly weatherdata 42 and monthly usage information). It should be understood,however, that platform 40 may determine normalized usage 428 of site 24based at least in part on weekly data, bi-weekly data, and/or data forany suitable length of time.

In the foregoing example, platform 40 determines normalized usage 428 ofsite 24 based at least in part on cooling degree-days 430. It should beunderstood, however, that platform 40 may determine normalized usage 428of site 24 based at least in part on heating degree-days 430, coolingdegree-days 430, all degree-days 430, and/or any suitable metric fortemperature.

In the foregoing example, platform 40 determines normalized usage 428 ofelectricity at site 24. It should be understood, however, that platform40 may determine normalized usage 428 of natural gas, water, coal, oil,and/or any suitable utility resource 14.

In the foregoing example, platform 40 determines normalized usage 428 ofsite 24 based at least in part on a linear regression of historicalutility usage 26. It should be understood, however, that platform 40 maydetermine normalized usage 428 of site 24 based at least in part on anon-linear regression and/or any suitable technique.

FIG. 12 illustrates an example GUI 72 that illustrates the correlationof degree-days 430 with expected utility usage 26 at site 24, accordingto certain embodiments. GUI 72 may comprise site field 438 and usagegraph 440. Site field 438 may permit user 68 to select a particular site24 for which user 68 wishes to normalize utility usage 26.

Usage graph 440 may display a relationship between historical utilityusage 26 and outdoor temperature at the selected site 24. As explainedabove, platform 40 may determine normalization formula 432 representinga relationship between degree-days 430 and utility usage 26 based atleast in part on historical usage data and historical weather data 42associated with site 24. Platform 40 may use historical usage data andweather data 42 for any suitable period of time. In some embodiments,platform 40 may use historical usage data and weather data 42 for aperiod longer than or equal to two years. According to certainembodiments, platform 40 may use historical usage and weather data 42for a period longer than or equal to four years. In the illustratedexample, platform 40 uses historical usage and weather data 42 fromJanuary 2004 to December 2007 to determine normalization formula 432.For each month during this four-year period, platform 40 determines theaverage utility usage 26 and the average number of degree-days 430 atsite 24. Referring to the example illustrated in FIG. 11, utility usage26 during the average February from 2004 to 2007 was approximately169,828 kWh and the number of cooling degree-days 430 during the averageFebruary from 2004 to 2007 was fifty-eight. In this example, platform 40may determine the four-year average utility usage 26 and number ofdegree-days 430 for each month.

The example usage graph 440 illustrated in FIG. 12 may comprise thedetermined average utility usage 26 and number of degree-days 430. Insome embodiments, usage graph 440 comprises a first axis 442representing usage of utility resource 14 at site 24 and a second axis444 representing numbers of degree-days 430 at site 24. For each period(e.g., month) of the year, usage graph 440 may display the long-term(e.g., two-year, four-year, etc.) average for utility usage 26 andnumber of degree days for each period (illustrated as points 446). Inthe illustrated example, each point 446 represents the four-year averagefor utility usage 26 and number of degree days for each month. Forexample, the first point 446 illustrates utility usage 26 and number ofdegree days for the average January from 2004 to 2007, the second point446 illustrates utility usage 26 and number of degree days for theaverage February from 2004 to 2007, and so forth.

In some embodiments, graph may further comprise a line 448 thatrepresents the relationship between utility usage 26 and number ofdegree days at site 24. Line 448 may be expressed as normalizationformula 432. As explained above, normalization formula 432 may bedetermined by performing a linear or non-linear regression of historicalutility usage 26 and/or weather data 42 for the selected period (e.g.,from January 2004 to December 2007).

In some embodiments, usage graph 440 may comprise balance point 434.Balance point 434 may refer to the expected utility usage 26 at site 24during a period with no degree-days 430. In this example, balance point434 is illustrated graphically as the y-intercept of line 448 with axis442 (i.e., 164,199 kWh). As explained above, platform 40 may use thedetermined formula and balance point 434 to determine normalized usage428 at site 24.

FIG. 13 illustrates an example GUI 72 that displays normalized usagedata, according to certain embodiments. GUI 72 may comprise site field438 and usage graph 452. Site field 438 may permit user 68 to select aparticular site 24 for which user 68 wishes to normalize utility usage26.

Usage graph 452 may display normalized usage 428 of site 24 for aconfigurable period of time. Usage graph 452 may comprise a first axis454 representing normalized usage 428 and a second axis 456 representingone or more periods of time. Usage graph 452 may comprise a first line458 that indicates the determined balance point 434 of site 24. Graphmay comprise a second line 460 that indicates normalized usage 428 atsite 24. In the illustrated example, line 460 illustrates normalizedusage 428 at site 24 from January 2007 to December 2007. According tocertain embodiments, graph may comprise a third line 462 that indicatesa long-term average of normalized usage 428 for site 24. In theillustrated example, line 462 represents normalized usage 428 at site 24based on four-year averages for each month from January 2004 to December2007.

The graphical presentation of normalized usage 428 may permit user 68 toeasily identify problems unrelated to weather that may contribute tochanges in usage at site 24. In the illustrated example, user 68 mayeasily observe that normalized usage 428 for September 2007 in line 460sharply deviated from both the balance point 434 (i.e., line 458) andthe four-year average of normalized usage 428 (i.e., line 462). Thisobservation may alert user 68 to a problem, unrelated to weather, thatoccurred during September 2007 and that caused an increase in utilityusage 26 at site 24. User 68 may then use client 70 to retrieve supplydata 62, site data 36, invoice data 64, and/or audit data 66 associatedwith September 2007 to determine the problem. Without the display ofnormalized usage 428, user 68 may not as easily detect that theincreased utility usage 26 during September 2007 was due to a problemother than weather.

FIG. 14 illustrates an example GUI 72 that displays emission data 56associated with one or more sites 24, according to certain embodiments.In some embodiments, platform 40 may determine an amount of emissionsthat are directly and/or indirectly caused by utility usage 26 at site24. In some embodiments, platform 40 may determine emissions for anysuitable pollutant such as, for example, carbon dioxide (CO₂), sulfurdioxide (SO₂), carbon monoxide (CO), methane, volatile organiccompounds, nitric oxide (NO), nitrous oxide (N₂O), nitric dioxide (NO₂),and/or any suitable pollutants. Platform 40 may determine the amount ofemissions attributable to site 24 based at least in part on utilityusage 26 at site 24 and at least one emission factor 58. Emission factor58 may refer to the average emission rate of a given pollutant for agiven activity. The activity may be any suitable activity thatcontributes directly or indirectly to the release of pollutants into theatmosphere. In some embodiments, the activity may be consumption ofelectricity, usage of steam, usage of chilled water, and/or combustionof gas, oil, diesel, coal, propane, and/or wood. Platform 40 maydetermine the emission of pollutant based at least in part on theintensity of the particular activity and/or at least one emission factor58.

In some embodiments, GUI 72 comprises a search field 464 and an emissiontable 466. Search field 464 may permit user 68 to select at least onetype of pollutant for which user 68 wishes to retrieve emission factors58.

Emission table 466 may display emission factors 58 for the selectedpollutant. Each emission factor 58 in emission table 466 may beassociated with a respective activity. In the illustrated embodiment,emission table 466 displays emission factors 58 for various activities.For example, emission table 466 display emission factors 58 for usage ofelectricity (illustrated as column 468); emission factors 58 forcombustion of natural gas, oil, diesel, coal, wood, and propane(illustrated as columns 470-480); and emission factors 58 for theconsumption of steam and chilled water (illustrated as columns 482-484).

In some embodiments, each emission factor 58 in emission table 466 maybe associated with a respective location (illustrated as column 486). Inthe illustrated example, each emission factor 58 is associated with arespective state. According to certain embodiments, emission factor 58for a particular activity in one location may be different from emissionfactor 58 for the same activity in a different location. For example,the CO₂ emission factor 58 for usage of electricity in Connecticut maybe 754.1860 lbs/MWh while the CO₂ emission factor 58 for usage ofelectricity in Indiana may be 2098.0280 lbs/MWh. In some embodiments,this difference may be due to different locations having differentsources of electricity. For example, a higher percentage ofConnecticut's electricity may be generated from clean sources (e.g.,nuclear, wind, and/or geothermal energy) and/or a higher percentage ofIndiana's electricity may be generated from more polluting sources(e.g., coal, oil, and/or gas).

Although the illustrated example shows emission factors 58 for CO₂, itshould be understood that GUI 72 may display emission factors 58 for anysuitable type and/or combination of pollutants.

FIG. 15 illustrates an example GUI 72 that displays emissions that aredirectly and/or indirectly caused by utility usage 26 at site 24. GUI 72may comprise site field 488 and emission graph 490. Site field 488 maypermit user 68 to select a particular site 24 for displaying emissiondata 56.

Emission graph 490 may graphically illustrate emissions that aredirectly or indirectly caused by utility usage 26 at site 24. Asexplained above, platform 40 may determine the emission of pollutantsattributable to site 24 based at least in part on a particular activityat site 24 and/or at least one emission factor 58. In some embodiments,platform 40 determines the emission of pollutants according to thefollowing formula:P=A*FIn the above formula, “P” may represent the amount of pollutant that isemitted into the atmosphere. “P” may be expressed according to anysuitable metric such as, for example, weight, mass, and/or volume. “A”may represent the particular activity that causes the emission ofpollutants. As explained above, the activity may comprise consumingresources such as, for example, energy and water. “A” may be expressedaccording to any suitable metric such as, for example, energy or work.“F” may represent the appropriate emission factor 58 based on theparticular activity and the location of activity.

An example illustrates certain embodiments. GUI 72 may display to user68 that site 24 in California used fifty MWh of electricity during aparticular period. User 68 may request platform 40 to determine theamount of CO₂ emissions that are attributable to the usage ofelectricity at site 24 during the particular period. In response to therequest from user 68, platform 40 may determine the appropriate CO₂emission factor 58 for the usage of electricity in California. In thisexample, platform 40 determines, based at least in part on emissiontable, that the appropriate CO₂ emission factor 58 is 700.4000 lbs/MWh.In this example, platform 40 determines the amount of CO₂ emissionsattributable to site 24 by multiplying utility usage 26 at site 24 bythe appropriate emission factor 58. Accordingly, platform 40 determinesthat the amount of CO₂ emissions attributable to site 24 during theparticular period is approximately 35,020 lbs of CO₂.

Although platform 40 determines CO₂ emissions for site 24 in theforegoing example, it should be understood that platform 40 maydetermine emissions of any type and/or combination of pollutants.

FIG. 16 illustrates an example GUI 72 that displays informationregarding emissions attributable to site 24. In some embodiments,platform 40 may convert emissions attributable to site 24 to emissionsproduced or consumed by a commodity.

The commodity may be any suitable object, item, and/or entity thatconsumes and/or produces (directly and/or indirectly) pollutants. Insome embodiments, the commodity may be vehicles and/or homes thatproduce emissions (either directly or indirectly). In other embodiments,the commodity may be trees and/or plants that consume pollutants suchas, for example, CO₂. Platform 40 may convert an amount of pollutantsattributable to site 24 to an amount of any suitable commodity. Forexample, platform 40 may convert a particular amount of CO₂ emissions toa number of forest acres that, on average, consume the particular amountof CO₂ emissions during a given period. As another example, platform 40may convert a particular amount of CO₂ emissions to a number of vehiclesthat, on average, emit the particular amount of CO₂ emissions during agiven period. Although the foregoing examples describe trees andvehicles as commodities, platform 40 may convert emissions of pollutantsto any type and/or combination of commodities.

In some embodiments, platform 40 may store in manager memory 48 one ormore conversion factors 492. Platform 40 may convert emissionsattributable to site 24 to emissions produced or consumed by aparticular commodity based at least in part on conversion factor 492. Insome embodiments, platform 40 may multiply a particular amount ofemissions attributable to site 24 by conversion factor 492 to determinean amount of a particular commodity that consumes or produces theparticular amount of emissions. Platform 40 may store any suitably typeand/or combination of conversion factors 492. In some embodiments,platform 40 may store conversion factors 492 for emissions comprisingcarbon dioxide (CO₂), sulfur dioxide (SO₂), carbon monoxide (CO),methane, volatile organic compounds, nitric oxide (NO), nitrous oxide(N₂O), nitric dioxide (NO₂), and/or any suitable pollutants. In theillustrated example, GUI 72 displays conversion factor 492 of 8.71E-5for converting a particular amount of CO₂ (expressed in lbs) to thenumber of average vehicles that collectively emit the particular amountof CO₂ each year. Although the example GUI 72 displays a particularconversion factor 492 for vehicles, GUI 72 may be operable to displayany suitable conversions factors for any type and/or combination ofcommodities.

In some embodiments, platform 40 may convert a reduction or increase inemissions for site 24 to an amount of at least one commodity. Forexample, if customer 30 reduces usage of electricity at site 24,platform 40 may determine a reduction in CO₂ emissions attributable tosite 24 and convert the determined reduction to at least one commodity.As an example, customer 30 reduces emissions at site 24 during aparticular year by fifty MWh in comparison to the previous year. Usingemission factor 58 and the location of site 24, platform 40 determinesthat the reduction in electricity usage resulted in a reduction inemissions of 35,020 lbs of CO₂, as illustrated in the example emissiongraph 494. Based at least in part on this reduction in emissions,platform 40 may determine a number of average vehicles that emit anequivalent quantity of CO₂ during a given year. In this example,platform 40 determines that conversion factor 492 for converting lbs CO₂per period to number of average vehicles per year is 8.71E-5. In thisexample, platform 40 multiplies 35,020 lbs by 8.71E-5 to determine thatthe reduction in electricity usage at site 24 during the particular yearis approximately equal to CO₂ emissions of approximately three averagevehicles during a year, as illustrated in commodity graph 496. Thus,customer 30 may report to investors and/or other interested individualsthat its reduction of electricity usage at site 24 during the year wasequivalent to removing three average vehicles from the road during ayear.

Although the foregoing example describes converting emissions to anequivalent number of vehicles, platform 40 may be operable to convertemissions to an equivalent number of acres of trees saved by thereduction in emissions, to an equivalent number of single-family homes,and/or to an equivalent amount of any suitable commodity.

In some embodiments, platform 40 may determine an increase or reductionin emissions attributable to site 24 based at least in part onnormalized usage 428 at site 24. For example, platform 40 may determinethe difference between balance point 434 for site 24 and normalizedusage 428 at site 24 during a particular time period. Based at least inpart on emission factor 58, platform 40 may determine a particularamount of emissions that corresponds to the determined differencebetween balanced point and normalized usage 428 at site 24. In someembodiments, platform 40 may convert the particular amount of emissionsto a particular commodity (e.g., forest acres, vehicles, etc.) thatproduce and/or consume pollutants.

An example illustrates certain embodiments. In the illustrated example,platform 40 determines that balance point 434 for Green Tower is 150,025kWh. Platform 40 further determines that normalized usage 428 for GreenTower during January 2007 was 120,025 kWh. Accordingly, due to factorsother than weather, Green Tower consumed 30,000 kWh fewer than expectedduring January 2007.

In this example, platform 40 determines that the appropriate CO₂emission factor 58 for the selected site 24 is 0.7004 lbs/kWh.Accordingly, platform 40 multiplies emission factor 58 by 30,000 kWh todetermine that the reduction in normalized usage 428 during January 2007caused a reduction in emissions of 21,012 lbs CO₂. Platform 40 thenmultiplies the determined reduction in emissions by the appropriateconversion factor 492 to determine that the reduction in normalizedusage 428 at site 24 during January 2007 was equivalent to removing twoaverage vehicles from the road during a year.

Thus, GUI 72 may allow user 68 to observe the effect on emissions causedby an increase or decrease in utility usage 26 at site 24. Knowing theenvironmental effect of utility usage 26 at site 24 may be valuable tointerested parties such as, for example, investors, regulators,lawmakers, and/or other individuals and entities. In some embodiments,expressing changes in emissions associated with changes in normalizedusage 428 at site 24 may demonstrate how the activities of customer 30,rather than the weather, are affecting emissions.

FIG. 17 illustrates a flowchart for retrieving invoice data 64 that isindexed according to service point identifier 84, according to certainembodiments. The method begins at step 602 where manager processor 52receives invoice from vendor 20. Invoice 16 may comprise any suitableinformation such as, for example, utility usage 26 and utility cost 12for a given billing period. At step 604, manager processor 52 determinesservice point identifier 84 associated with invoice 16. Service pointidentifier 84 may uniquely identify the particular service point towhich vendor 20 delivered utility resource 14 associated with invoice16. At step 606, manager processor 52 stores in memory module 46 servicepoint identifier 84 in association with utility usage 26 and/or utilitycost 12 from invoice 16. In some embodiments, manager processor 52 mayfurther store in memory module 46 at least one account identifier 86,site name, street address, and/or meter identifier 82 associated withservice point identifier 84. Manager processor 52 may repeat steps 604to 606 for each invoice 16 received from each vendor 20 in system 10.

At step 608, manager processor 52 generates GUI 72 that displays aplurality of service point identifiers 84. In some embodiments, client70 displays GUI 72 to user 68. User 68 may submit a query by at leastselecting one or more of the displayed service point identifiers 84. Atstep 610, manager processor 52 may receive from client 70 a querycomprising at least one service point identifier 84. At step 612,manager processor 52 may identify in memory module 46 one or more valuesfor utility usage 26 and/or utility cost 12 associated with servicepoint identifier 84 from the query. At step 614, manager processor 52may generate GUI 72 that displays the identified utility usage 26 and/orutility cost 12. Client 70 may display GUI 72 to user 68. The methodthen ends.

FIG. 18 illustrates a flowchart for determining normalized usage 428 ofutility resource 14 at site 24, according to certain embodiments. Themethod begins at step 702 where manager processor 52 receives a queryfor normalized usage 428 at site 24 during a first set of time periods.At step 704, manager processor 52 determines utility usage 26 at site 24during each time period from a second set of time periods. In someembodiments, the first set of time periods and the second set of timeperiods may be the same or may overlap. For example, the first set oftime periods may comprise each month from January 2007 to December 2007and the second set of time periods may comprise each month from January2004 to December 2007. In other embodiments, the first set of timeperiods may not overlap with the second set of time periods.

At step 706, manager processor 52 may determine the number ofdegree-days 430 at site 24 during each time period from the second setof time periods. Manager processor 52 may determine the number ofdegree-days 430 based at least in part on weather data 42 from weathercenter 60. At step 708, manager processor 52 determines normalizationformula 432 that expresses an expected utility usage 26 at site 24during a particular time period as a function of the number ofdegree-days 430 at site 24 during the particular time period.Normalization formula 432 may be determined based at least in part on alinear or non-linear regression of the determined utility usage 26and/or determined number of degree-days 430 at site 24 during each timeperiod from the second plurality of time periods.

At step 710, manager processor 52 may determine balance point 434 ofsite 24 based at least in part on normalization formula 432. Balancepoint 434 may represent the expected utility usage 26 of site 24 duringa particular time period if there were no degree-days 430 during theparticular time period. At step 712, manager processor 52 may determinethe number of degree-days 430 at site 24 during each time period fromthe first set of time periods. Manager processor 52 may determine thenumber of degree-days 430 based at least in part on weather data 42 fromweather center 60. At step 714, manager processor 52 may determine theexpected utility usage 26 at site 24 during each time period from thefirst set of time periods. The expected utility usage 26 at site 24during a particular time period may be based at least in part onnormalization formula 432 and the number of degree-days 430 at site 24during the particular time period.

At step 716, manager processor 52 may determine the difference betweenthe expected utility usage 26 and balance point 434 at site 24 duringeach time period from the first set of time periods. At step 718,manager processor 52 may determine normalized usage 428 for each timeperiod from the first set of time periods by adding balance point 434 tothe determined difference for each time period from the first set oftime periods. At step 720, manager processor 52 may generate GUI 72 thatcomprises graph illustrating normalized usage 428 at site 24 during eachtime period from the first set of time periods. Deviations of normalizedusage 428 from balance point 434 of site 24 may indicate that factorsother than weather are causing increases or decreases of utility usage26 at site 24. The method then ends.

FIG. 19 illustrates a flowchart for generating GUI 72 that displaysinformation regarding emissions of a particular pollutant causeddirectly or indirectly by changes in normalized usage 428 at site 24.The method begins at step 802 where manager processor 52 receives fromclient 70 a request to display emission data 56 based on changes innormalized usage 428 at site 24 during a particular time period. At step804, manager processor 52 determines balance point 434 of site 24. Atstep 806, manager processor 52 determines normalized usage 428 at site24 during the particular time period. Manager processor 52 may determinebalance point 434 and/or normalized usage 428 according to the methoddescribed above with respect to FIG. 18.

At step 808, manager processor 52 determines the difference betweenbalance point 434 of site 24 and the determined normalized usage 428 atsite 24 during the particular time period. At step 810, managerprocessor 52 determines the appropriate emission factor 58 associatedwith the particular pollutant and the selected site 24. Managerprocessor 52 may determine emission factor 58 based at least in part onemission data 56 stored in manager memory 48. At step 812, platform 40determines an amount of emissions based at least in part on thedetermined emission factor 58 and the determined difference betweenbalance point 434 of site 24 and the determined normalized usage 428 atsite 24 during the particular time period.

At step 814, manager processor 52 determines an appropriate conversionfactor 492 for converting the determined amount of emissions to anamount of a commodity that consumes or produces emissions. The commoditymay be any suitable commodity such as, for example, forest acres,vehicles, and single-family homes. Manager processor 52 may determinethe appropriate conversion factor 492 based at least in part on emissiondata 56 stored in manager memory 48. At step 816, based at least in parton the determined conversion factor 492 and the determined amount ofemissions, manager processor 52 may determine an amount of the commoditythat consumes or produces the determined amount of emissions during aparticular time period. At step 818, manager processor 52 may generateGUI 72 that graphically illustrates the increase or decrease inemissions caused directly or indirectly by a change in normalized usage428 at site 24. In some embodiments, GUI 72 may graphically illustratethe determined amount of the commodity. Client 70 may display GUI 72 touser 68. The method then ends.

Although the present invention has been described in detail, it shouldbe understood the various changes, substitutions, and alterations can bemade hereto without departing from the scope of the invention as definedby the appended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A system, comprising: one or more computer memorymodules that store: utility invoice data received from a utility vendor,the utility invoice data including: a plurality of usage values, eachusage value based at least in part on usage of at least one utilityresource, the usage measured by at least one utility meter having atleast one meter identifier; a plurality of cost values, each cost valueat least in part based on a corresponding usage value; a plurality ofaccount identifiers, each account identifier associated with at leastone utility account and stored in association with at least one of theplurality of usage values and at least one of the plurality of costvalues; and a plurality of service point identifiers, the plurality ofservice point identifiers including a first service point identifierrepresenting a physical location of a first utility meter having a firstmeter identifier, the first service point identifier stored inassociation with a first usage value measured by the first utilitymeter, a first cost value for the first usage value, and a particularaccount identifier, wherein the first service point identifier retainsits association with the physical location, the first usage value, thefirst cost value, and the particular account identifier in response to areplacement of the first utility meter with a second utility meterhaving a second meter identifier and a change of the particular accountidentifier to a new account identifier; and a processor that iscommunicatively coupled to the one or more computer memory modules andthat: receives a request for historical information associated with thephysical location, the request comprising the first service pointidentifier; retrieves the historical information from the one or morecomputer memory modules in response to the request, the historicalinformation retrieved based at least in part on the first service pointidentifier in the request, wherein the historical information includeshistorical usage values and historical cost values associated with thephysical location, the first meter identifier, the second meteridentifier, the particular account identifier, and the new accountidentifier; generates a graphical user interface that displays thehistorical information; determines a plurality of strategies forreducing utility costs for future utility usage at the physical locationbased at least in part on the historical usage values and the historicalcost values associated with the physical location, the first meteridentifier, the second meter identifier, the particular accountidentifier, and the new account identifier; determines a plurality ofmonetary savings values, each associated with one of the plurality ofstrategies for reducing utility costs for future utility usage at thephysical location; and presents the plurality of strategies and theirassociated plurality of monetary savings values using the graphical userinterface.
 2. The system of claim 1, the at least one utility resourcecomprising at least one of: water; natural gas; coal; oil; andelectricity.
 3. The system of claim 1, wherein: a second usage value isstored in association with the first service point identifier; a thirdusage value is stored in association with a second service pointidentifier; and in response to a request for historical informationassociated with the first service point identifier, the requestcomprising the first service point identifier, the processor retrievesthe first and second usage values without retrieving the third usagevalue; and in response to a request for historical informationassociated with the second service point identifier, the requestcomprising the second service point identifier, the processor retrievesthe third usage value without retrieving the first and second usagevalues.
 4. The system of claim 1, wherein: the physical locationrepresented by the first service point identifier is located at acustomer site and the one or more computer memory modules store at leastone street address of the customer site; the customer site comprises athird meter having a third meter identifier; and the plurality ofservice point identifiers include a third service point identifierrepresenting a physical location at the customer site of the thirdutility meter.
 5. The system of claim 1, wherein each usage valuerepresents a cost charged by a vendor for the usage of the at least oneutility resource.
 6. The system of claim 1, wherein: each usage valuerepresents an amount of the at least one resource that is delivered to acustomer site; and each of the plurality of service point identifiersrepresents a point of delivery of the at least one utility resource froma vendor to the customer site.
 7. The system of claim 1, wherein theprocessor normalizes at least a portion of the retrieved historicalinformation based at least in part on weather data.
 8. The system ofclaim 1, wherein the processor determines at least one emissions valuebased at least in part on the retrieved historical information, the atleast one emissions value representing emissions of at least onepollutant associated the usage of at least one utility resource at thephysical location.
 9. The system of claim 1, wherein: retrievinghistorical information comprises: retrieving the first usage valuemeasured by the first utility meter, the first usage value representingan amount of actual usage of a utility resource at the physicallocation; and retrieving a budgeted usage value representing an amountbudgeted by a customer for usage of the utility resource at the physicallocation; and the graphical user interface displays the amount of actualusage in association with the budgeted amount for usage.
 10. The systemof claim 1, the plurality of strategies comprising: negotiating acontract term for a utility service; selecting a vendor for the utilityservice; fixing equipment located at the physical location; correcting abilling error for the utility service; and changing an operatingparameter at the physical location.
 11. A method, comprising: receivingutility invoice data from a utility vendor, the utility invoice dataincluding: a plurality of usage values, each usage value based at leastin part on usage of at least one utility resource, the usage measured byat least one utility meter having at least one meter identifier; aplurality of cost values, each cost value based at least in part on acorresponding usage value; a plurality of account identifiers, eachaccount identifier associated with at least one utility account andstored in association with at least one of the plurality of usage valuesand at least one of the plurality of cost values; storing the utilityinvoice data in one or more computer memory modules; storing a pluralityof service point identifiers in the one or more computer memory modules,the plurality of service point identifiers including a first servicepoint identifier representing a physical location of a first utilitymeter having a first meter identifier, the particular service pointidentifier stored in association with a first usage value measured bythe first utility meter, a first cost value for the first usage value,and a particular account identifier, wherein the first service pointidentifier retains its association with the physical location, the firstusage value, the first cost value, and the particular account identifierin response to a replacement of the first utility meter with a secondutility meter having a second meter identifier and a change of theparticular account identifier to a new account identifier; receiving arequest for historical information associated with the physicallocation, the request comprising the particular service pointidentifier; retrieving the historical information from the one or morecomputer memory modules using a processor in response to the request,the historical information retrieved based at least in part on theparticular service point identifier in the request, wherein thehistorical information includes historical usage values and historicalcost values associated with the physical location, the first meteridentifier, the second meter identifier, the particular accountidentifier, and the new account identifier; generating on a display agraphical user interface that displays the historical information,determining a plurality of strategies for reducing utility costs forfuture utility usage at the physical location based at least in part onthe historical usage values and the historical cost values associatedwith the physical location, the first meter identifier, the second meteridentifier, the particular account identifier, and the new accountidentifier; determining a plurality of monetary savings values, eachassociated with one of the plurality of strategies for reducing utilitycosts for future utility usage at the physical location; and presentingthe plurality of strategies and their associated plurality of monetarysavings values using the graphical user interface.
 12. The method ofclaim 11, wherein: a second usage value is stored in association withthe first service point identifier; a third usage value is stored inassociation with a second service point identifier; in response to arequest for historical information associated with the first servicepoint identifier, the request comprising the first service pointidentifier, the first and second usage values are retrieved withoutretrieving the third usage value; and in response to a request forhistorical information associated with the second service pointidentifier, the request comprising the second service point identifier,the third usage value is retrieved without retrieving the first andsecond usage values.
 13. The method of claim 11, wherein: the physicallocation represented by the first service point identifier is located ata customer site, the one or more computer memory modules storing atleast one street address of the customer site; the customer siteadditionally comprises a third meter having a third meter identifier;and the plurality of service point identifiers include a third servicepoint identifier representing a physical location at the customer siteof the third utility meter.
 14. The method of claim 11, wherein eachusage value represents a cost charged by a vendor for the usage of theat least one utility resource.
 15. The method of claim 11, wherein: eachusage value represents an amount of the at least one resource that isdelivered to a customer site; and each of the plurality of service pointidentifiers represents a point of delivery of the at least one utilityresource from a vendor to the customer site.
 16. The method of claim 11,further comprising: normalizing at least a portion of the retrievedhistorical information based at least in part on weather data.
 17. Themethod of claim 11, further comprising: determining at least oneemissions value based at least in part on the the retrieved historicalinformation, the at least one emissions value representing emissions ofat least one pollutant associated usage of at least one utility resourceat the physical location.
 18. The method of claim 11, wherein:retrieving the historical information comprises: retrieving the firstusage value measured by the first utility meter, the first usage valuerepresenting an amount of actual usage of the a utility resource at thephysical location; and retrieving a budgeted usage value representing anamount budgeted by a customer for usage of the utility resource at thephysical location; and the graphical user interface displays the amountof actual usage in association with the budgeted amount for usage. 19.The method of claim 11, the plurality of strategies comprising:negotiating a contract term for a utility service; selecting a vendorfor the utility service; fixing equipment located at the physicallocation; correcting a billing error for the utility service; andchanging an operating parameter at the physical location.
 20. Agraphical user interface, comprising: a plurality of service pointidentifiers, the plurality of service point identifiers including afirst service point identifier representing a physical location of afirst utility meter having a first meter identifier, the first servicepoint identifier associated with a first usage value measured by thefirst utility meter, a first cost value for the first usage value, and aparticular account identifier the first usage value, the first costvalue, and the particular account identifier included in invoice datareceived from a utility vendor, wherein the first service pointidentifier retains its association with the physical location, the firstusage value, the first cost value, and the particular account identifierin response to a replacement of the first utility meter with a secondutility meter having a second meter identifier and a change of theparticular account identifier to a new account identifier; and a chartthat, in response to a selection of the first service point identifier,displays historical information associated with the physical location,the historical information based at least in part on the first servicepoint identifier, wherein the historical information includes historicalusage values and historical cost values associated with the physicallocation, the first meter identifier, the second meter identifier, thenew account identifier, and the particular account identifier, whereinthe historical usage values include: the first usage value, the firstusage value representing an amount of usage for a utility resourcedelivered to a first service point associated with the first servicepoint identifier, the first usage value associated with an invoice froman expired account associated with the particular account identifier,the first usage value measured at least in part by the first utilitymeter; a second usage value for the utility resource delivered to thefirst service point associated with the first service point identifier,the second usage value associated with an invoice from a new accountassociated with the new account identifier, the second usage valuemeasured at least in part by the first utility meter; and a third usagevalue for the utility resource delivered to the first service pointassociated with the first service point identifier, the third usagevalue associated with the invoice from the new account associated withthe new account identifier, the third usage value measured at least inpart by the second utility meter; wherein the chart also presents aplurality of strategies and a plurality of monetary savings values, theplurality of monetary savings values each associated with one of theplurality of strategies, the plurality of strategies each capable ofreducing utility costs for future utility usage at the physical locationand determined based at least in part on the historical usage values andthe historical cost values associated with the physical location, thefirst meter identifier, the second meter identifier, the particularaccount identifier, and the new account identifier.